Assistive Tech: Common FREE Apps for Learning

I'm often asked which apps I'd recommend for putting on a new device. Here is a list of some of the most commonly used ones. Most of these would suit a primary classroom or students at the emergent end of the NZ Curriculum.

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App & Link	Summary
Virtual Manipulatives	You can use this app to help children compare and contrast fraction by regions.
Attainment's Show Me Math Free	Show Me Math Free links computation with actual objects by showing a brief animated movie for each math problem. For example, 3 + 6 = 9 is illustrated with a group of 3 ants joining six others. This instructional process helps students visualise math.
Teaching Number Lines	Pretty straightforward: forward and backward counting.
Count Sort	A very basic set of activities for children just beginning to learn about numbers.
10 Frame Fill	Provides children practice with recognizing additive "10 Families" (e.g., 1 and 9, 2 and 8, etc.).
Maths With Springbird HD	Practice various aspects of maths including addition, subtraction, number sets, shapes and coin counting.
Math Slide: Addition & Subtraction	A multiplayer game helping children to learn and recall addition and subtraction number facts.
Math Slide: Tens & Ones	This is a lovely collaborative app played with between two and four players each taking turns. Take a look at others by the same developer as well.
The Calculator	A calculator.
My Script Calculator - Handwriting Calculator	Perform mathematical operations naturally using your handwriting.
Bitsboard	Bitsboard is ideal for learning languages, mastering vocabulary, learning to read, learning to speak, becoming the next spelling champion and more!
Book Creator One	Brilliant book creator, make your book and it sends it to iBooks and exports to video in the camera roll- now with embedded audio, video and freestyle handwriting features. My MUST HAVE NUMBER ONE MOST VERSATILE APP. Open-ended and cross-curriculum. Link to full version ($7.49)
Write About This NZ Free	Either select from pre-set writing prompts or take your own. Record a voice prompt to go with it and write your story. When you're done you can record your story and export it to your camera roll.  Here is my quick example.  Link to full version ($5.99)
PicCollage	Great app for combining photos into collages. Also, add text and export to camera roll or email. Here's a great tutorial on Pic Collage. Look for the tutorial on how to use it and embed a photo on your blog here. This kid-safe version has no social aspects.
ShowMe Interactive Whiteboard	Draw and record your voice on your iPad at the same time- can add your photos upload and get a quick embed code. Really useful for making recordings of lessons to keep or share. It can upload to the web very easily if wanted so you can get the embed code for your blog or Google site. Open-ended and cross-curriculum.
Puppet Pals HD	This is the free version and although you can get the extra functionality with in-app purchases, it is way better to get the whole app in one go ($7.49). One of my favourites. You use your characters to easily record movies, exports to the camera roll. Open ended and cross curriculum. There is an iPod Touch/iPhone version as well.
Tellagami	(free initially but to do anything much you have to complete in-app purchases) Construct an avatar, upload a background or use one of theirs. Record your voice or type text. Export to Camera Roll or get the embed code. Here is my example. Here is a blog post I wrote on how Tellagami can work across all levels of the SAMR model.
Easy QR2	Really easy to use QR Code reader- very reliable. Make QR codes using the Chrome Extension Google URL Shortener and your iPad can quickly access websites- especially useful for little kids to access tricky to type web sites.
Popplet Lite	The lite version only lets you create on mindmap at a time. There is a paid version for ($7.49) that lets you create multiple Popplets. I just take a screen grab of the lite version when it's finished with.
SeeSaw	Practical and simple interface for your learners to create an online portfolio and share with whānau. Parents need the Parent version of the app. Also can send selected items as a public blog. Plenty of great support on their website.
Paper by Fifty Three	Drawing/painting: Quite simple but elegant interface which makes it great for beginners.
Sock Puppets	Record the puppets as they lip synch with your voice. Great for te reo.
Skoolbo Go Kiwi Kids!	Excellent cross platform and web based tool for literacy and numeracy.
PhotoMath	This app uses your iPad camera to view typed maths problems and it solves them, giving the steps to working out the answers.
Ready to Read Apps	There is a growing series of Ready to Read Books in digital format. Some are supported with New Zealand Sign Language and Te Reo.
Victory at Point 209- Ngarimu Te Tohu Toa	Perfect for reluctant readers and boys from the age of 10 years. This app is an adaptation of the graphic novel, Ngarimu Te Tohu Toa- the story of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu of 28th Māori and English.ori Battalion who was awarded the VC during World War Two. In Māori and English.
Spellosaurus	You can enter your own words and record your own voice to the spelling words to learn them. An in app purchase lets you add individual students
NZSL Dictionary	Brilliant app for learning how to sign. You search for a word and you get a pictorial representation of it- and then, if you are on line, you can view a video of someone signing the word.
MindMeister	More detailed mind mapping. You can synch your maps with the on line version as well.
Classroom Reader By Booktrack	Booktrack Classroom allows students to read with a movie-style soundtrack, or to create their own soundtrack for any story, essay or other text. Students can also create and publish their own Booktracks, reading them on the web or on mobile phones and tablets.
Reomations	A series of animations promoting Te Reo. Made by the Ministry of Education.
Te Whata Raki	An interactive online Māori world with Whētu Marama as your guide. Explore the wharenui or whare and test your reo with a word matching game. Developed by Christchurch library
Te Pūmanawa	Excellent learning Te Reo app - constructed like a course. You need wifi for it to work. Easy to navigate. If you want to take the course with assessments and feedback you have to get a licence.
Maui and his First Journey	The story of Māui, his birth and life - in Te Reo
12 Huia Birds	Nicely put together book read in Te Reo and English with supporting material.